Elon Musk Hardcover – September 12, 2023

As interesting a biography as I've ever read and by an author of so many great ones. Einstein, Jobs, Kissiniger, et al. But this one is about a man of our times -- changing the world via leading-edge technology that will separate America from the rest of the world and fuel our economic and military superiority.Musk's genius is unquestioned. His ability to set and achieve near imposible goals for himself, his companies and his team is mind-boggling. His personal life is constantly in shambles: an abusive father in South Africa; multiple marriages; children from several ladies; ever-increasing personal responsibilities while driving more and more corporations; to become today's globe trotting 'world's richest man' which opens every door with a simple phone call.He thrives on chaos. His surges and problem solving ideas are legendary. He doesn't accept no -- even if it turns out not to be right. Break it and build it back up (Kipling's 'IF'). Take 2500 engineers at Twitter and reduce that number to 150 in sixty days. Take a $1500 NASA spacecraft valve and replace it with one that cost $30. Eliminate 'cost-plus' sourcing by NASA and upend its entire cost structure. It's focus on steroids, and when he is infrequently silent with a far-off stare that can sometimes last minutes -- shut up and listen, because a decision is about to be communicated and then, (most importantly) executed. Risk is not an enemy, but a motivator to succeed or fail quickly.I cannot recommend this book too much. For although Steve Jobs (whom I knew) displayed similar product genius while sharing Elon's few interpersonal skills, Steve had no idea how to actually produce the end result. Elon not only creates unbelievable ideas, he sleeps on the shop floors alongside his team as he makes it happen. Musk nightly roams the shop -- workstation to workstation examining procedures and making changes on the fly to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. There's little wonder that Trump selected Musk to initiate draining the swamp in Washington as he cannot tolerate waste and inefficiency. And little wonder why he was happy to escape that feckless group of status quo politicians and do-nothing bureaucrats after launching D.O.G.E. Stay tuned -- I doubt it will be his last assignment.From rockets (SpaceX) to Satellites to Starlink, to Starship, to EVs, to Neualink, to Full Self-Driving (FSD), Elon Musk is the perfect technology genius for today's America as we transition to a new world order. His imperfections as a human (Asperger's, Bi-polar, mood swings, even destructive behaviors/tweets), along with his abrasive, crisis-driven managment style will clearly not appeal to everyone. Many could not work for the man. But those who can have already accomplished much for America and humankind. All Americans should thank him for his bold vision and ability to bring those dreams to reality. It's an extremely rare talent. I wish him many more years of exceptional accomplishments.Now...On to Mars!

So there I am, sittin’ in The Dog & Razor, pint in hand, mindin’ me own business. In walks Mickey the Moth with a face like he’s seen God, only God's drivin’ a Tesla and wearin’ SpaceX trainers. Slaps this book on the table—Elon Musk, big bloody letters, cover looks like it could launch itself—and says,“You wanna know madness, Reggie? You wanna know what it looks like when a geezer builds flamethrowers, tweets like a toddler on Red Bull, and tries to colonise Mars before breakfast? Read this.”And I did.It’s not just a book. It’s a dossier. A psychological autopsy with a bit of nitro in the margins. Walter Isaacson, bless him, writes like a copper tailin’ the world’s most unpredictable suspect—half Bond villain, half boy genius, all chaos. One minute Elon’s on a factory floor yellin’ about bolts, next minute he’s crashin’ Twitter like it’s a Lada with no brakes.Isaacson peels back the curtain—childhood trauma, wild ambition, dodgy family ties, tech tantrums, and one hell of a messianic complex. Reads like a long con. Or a heist. Or both. Musk builds empires like Bricktop builds underground boxing rings: aggressively, erratically, and occasionally with a body or two in the boot.You've got rockets that blow up on purpose, cars that drive themselves into trees, AI start-ups hidden under his bed like dirty magazines, and enough drama at Twitter—I mean X, whatever—that it makes Lock, Stock look like a documentary about tea.But here's the kicker: you can't look away. Because every time you think, “Right, this is it, the man’s gone full Looney Tunes,” he does something that changes the game. Electric cars. Private space travel. Brain chips. Underground tubes for cars. Is it genius? Is it madness?It’s probably both.⭐ Final Verdict:This book?5 out of 5 dodgy geezers with rocket fuel in their veins.A ride through the mind of a man who doesn’t just break the rules—he reinvents the bloody game mid-hand and walks away with the pot.Just don’t try to work for him. Or date him. Or invest unless you’ve got nerves of tungsten and a quick exit strategy.